Microsoft 365 vs ShieldBox
for Financial Services
in Australia
Financial advisers, accountants, and APRA-regulated entities need email that satisfies ASIC record-keeping and APRA CPS 234 obligations. See why Australian financial services businesses are switching from Microsoft 365 to ShieldBox.
Microsoft 365 is powerful but cannot satisfy APRA CPS 234 or ASD Essential Eight requirements for Australian government and regulated sector use. CLOUD Act exposure persists regardless of data residency settings.
Key Risks for Financial Services
Using Microsoft 365
Compliance Obligations for Financial Services
Why Microsoft 365 cannot satisfy the compliance requirements of Australian financial services.
AFSL holders must retain accessible records of all financial services correspondence for 7 years. Microsoft 365's offshore storage complicates ASIC record production and creates APP 8 exposure.
APRA-regulated entities must maintain board-level oversight of information security. Microsoft 365 is not ASD Essential Eight aligned and cannot satisfy APRA CPS 234 requirements for regulated entities.
Every email containing client financial information sent via Microsoft 365 is an ongoing APP 8 cross-border disclosure. Australian hosting is the only complete solution.
Financial services is the second-highest NDB reporting sector. Microsoft 365 does not provide the breach detection and 30-day OAIC notification workflow that Australian financial services businesses need.
Why ShieldBox Wins for Financial Services
ShieldBox is the only email platform that satisfies ASIC RG 7, APRA CPS 234, and Privacy Act 1988 obligations for Australian financial services businesses — with ISO 27001 certification and ASD Essential Eight alignment.
Microsoft 365 vs ShieldBox for Financial Services — FAQs
Does Microsoft 365 satisfy ASIC RG 7 record-keeping requirements?
No. ASIC RG 7 requires AFSL holders to retain accessible records of all financial services correspondence for 7 years. Microsoft 365's offshore storage complicates ASIC record production and creates APP 8 exposure. ShieldBox's 7-year tamper-proof Australian-hosted archive satisfies ASIC RG 7 requirements.
Is Microsoft 365 compliant with APRA CPS 234?
No. APRA CPS 234 requires APRA-regulated entities to maintain board-level oversight of information security including email systems. Microsoft 365 is not ASD Essential Eight aligned and cannot satisfy APRA CPS 234 requirements. ShieldBox holds ISO 27001 certification and is built to ASD Essential Eight Maturity Level 2.
Can I use Microsoft 365 for my Australian financial advisory practice?
No. Microsoft 365 stores email on USA servers, creating ongoing APP 8 cross-border disclosure obligations for every client email containing personal or financial information. ASIC RG 7 and APRA CPS 234 requirements cannot be satisfied with offshore email.
Why are Australian financial services businesses switching from Microsoft 365 to ShieldBox?
Australian financial services businesses are switching from Microsoft 365 to ShieldBox to satisfy ASIC RG 7 record-keeping requirements, meet APRA CPS 234 obligations, and eliminate APP 8 cross-border disclosure exposure. ShieldBox is the only email platform built specifically for Australian financial services compliance.
Switch from Microsoft 365 to ShieldBox
Start for free — no credit card, no US servers, no CLOUD Act exposure. Built for Australian financial services.